“Are you going to pay for the damage done or not?” demanded Dan Baxter.
“I shall certainly pay,” said Pepper, promptly. “Let me have the camera and I’ll get it fixed. Or you can have it fixed and have the bill sent to me.”
“We’ll all pay the bill,” cried Jack. “I think I am as much to blame as Pep.”
“So am I,” added Andy, and many of the others who had been playing snap-the-whip said the same.
“I am not going to let you have my camera,” said Dan Baxter, sulkily. “I’ll get it mended as it should be.” He paused a moment. “But I ain’t going to let you knock me down for nothing.”
“As I explained, it was an accident, Dan.”
“Humph! You ought to be made to apologize,” growled the bully. He would have attacked Pepper, only he realized that the lad had too many friends around.
A war of words followed, lasting several minutes. Then of a sudden one of the boys let out a low whistle.
“Five minutes over time, fellows. We must get back to the Hall!”
“Five minutes late!” came the cry. “This won’t do at all! Come on and get back!”
And then the majority ran off, leaving Pepper and Jack with Dan Baxter and Gus Coulter.
“I’ve got to get back to the Hall, Baxter,” said Pepper. “But I’ll settle to-morrow.”
“Yes—for I’ll make you settle,” answered the bully, meaningly. “I’ve stood all I’m going to stand from you and your cronies.”
So speaking the bully picked up his camera and hurried away, followed by Gus Coulter with the case containing the plates.
“I am sorry this happened,” observed Jack, as he and Pepper ran for the mess-hall. “This will make Baxter more down on us than ever.”
“I couldn’t help it, Jack. I did what I could to steer clear of the bushes. I didn’t want to scratch my face, and I didn’t know he was back there out of sight.”
When Jack and Pepper reached the Hall they were met by Josiah Crabtree, who viewed them sternly.
“What is the meaning of this, Major Ruddy?” demanded the first assistant teacher. “You are setting a bad example for those under you.”
“We had a little trouble on the ice,” answered Jack. “Pepper fell down and knocked over Dan Baxter’s camera, and we had to straighten matters out.”
“Humph! See that you are not late again,” muttered the teacher, and passed on.
“Phew! we got off easily that time,” exclaimed Pepper, in a low tone. “He must have something else to attend to,” and in this surmise the youth was correct.